They were now settled back around the coffee table. The pizza was completely devoured and the mood in the room much more relaxed than a few hours ago. Bobby was stationed on the couch, Dani on the opposite end and Alex, in the recliner, on the other side of Bobby. They had filled Alex in on most of the case and were now moving to the specifics.

"So, what's your cover, Dani?" Bobby asked.

"I have the money contact. The problem with their plan is that they can't move the stuff in large enough quantities to make money. If they deal with local thugs, the drugs wind up right back in evidence, defeating the purpose of turning a buck." Dani explained.

Alex questioned, "How'd you make the contact?"

"Zach sent me on a solo meet down in Nuevo Laredo around a year ago. It turned up dry, or so I thought, but Jake was really interested. I guess if I'm honest with myself, I knew something was up then. Jake just kept on pestering me about it but I just played it close to the vest and never really gave him anything to sink his teeth into." Dani paused, "Hmm, guess Zach suspected him even then."

Goren smiled. Denial was a funny thing. Once you realized it's what you're doing, the whole world opens up. Bobby watched as Dani pieced the puzzle together in her mind as she continued to explain the connections.

"So, when I talked to Jake last, he gave me Nettles name as the New York contact he'd been working with. Again, guess I should have suspected things weren't right, 'cause first thing Brad wanted to know was did I still have a money contact."

Alex leaned in, "You can keep beating yourself up, if you want to, but it's getting a little old. Move on already."

Bobby looked from his partner to Dani, who said, "Damn, she's rough. She this hard on you?"

Bobby nodded, "Harder."

Eames tsked them both and asked her question, "So what's your relationship with this money guy?"

"The story is I've met him as C.T. – my cover. Our relationship is intimate to the point of physically abusive. She's the mouthpiece but definitely takes orders from him."

"How did you plan to pull this off?" Goren wanted to know.

"Figured when I had the meet set up, I'd bring in my money man in the form of the cavalry to make the arrest."

"Is it going to work?" Alex asked.

"Don't know yet. That's what the set up is for tomorrow night, confirming those plans and arranging that final meet."

"So, guess we know how you go in, huh, Goren?" Alex spoke again.

Bobby nodded and turned to Dani, "To make it believable, we've got to be all over each other. You ready for that?"

Dani shrugged, "I guess so."

Goren reached out and began to run his hand suggestively up Dani's leg and under the loose fitting Capri-sweats. Dani jumped, stopping his hand, "Whoa, big boy!"

"Dani, I've got to know you can do this. Otherwise, you'll get us both killed." Goren was serious as he started at her again.

"Just wait a minute!" Dani shouted and stood from the couch. "I handled it just fine last night and you were all over me then."

Goren stood, too, shouting back, "That was different and you know it. You thought I was some drunk that you were trying to keep out of harm's way."

"When I have on the clothes and the wig, it'll be fine. That's the character. That's what's called for and I'll do it then. Like this," and she motioned down the length of her front, "it's me – Dani, not C.T. and it's just too damn intimate."

"Back off, Bobby," Eames spoke quietly from the chair. "She's right. Once you've got the clothes on you know how to act. I've been there and done that. When the time comes, you do what you've got to do."

Bobby dropped back down on the couch, knowing if he pushed Dani further, Eames would be all over him. From behind the couch, Dani mouthed "thank you" to Alex. She continued, "Look, we're all tired. It's been a long day and tomorrow will be worse. Let's turn in and get some rest. We can actually sleep in." Eames said, smiling.

Bobby began straightening the files as he spoke, "You're right. We're all still a little on edge. You girls take the bed. I'll sleep on the couch."

"I hate to run you out of your room," Dani began.

"I don't," Eames laughed her answer, "He's got a great big comfortable bed and a lousy, lumpy couch. I call bed!" And to emphasize her point, Alex headed down the hall to Bobby's bedroom.

Bobby laughed quietly but sensed Dani still lurking somewhere behind him. Again, without turning to face her, he spoke, "Dani, go to bed. It's fine."

Dani nodded, knowing he didn't see it, and walked to the hall, "Good night, then." And she continued to the bedroom.

Bobby returned to the files. He knew there was still more to review but the events of the day and the stress of returning to an undercover operation were beginning to weigh heavy. He stretched out on the couch and was soon fast asleep.

Dani turned in the bed and reached out for her phone. Looking at the clock that read "4:30am", she quietly replaced it on the nightstand. She could hear Alex's even breathing and knew she was dead to the world. Dani envied her but still couldn't make herself sleep. She quietly slipped from the bed and returned back to the living room. Thinking to raid the refrigerator, she was walking quietly by the couch. Dani was totally unprepared for the hand that reached out to grab her wrist and pulled her down to a sitting position.

"Shit!" She cursed quietly. She felt rather than heard the rumble of laughter from Goren where she half-sat, half-laid on the couch. "That's not freakin' funny."

"Kinda is." She could hear the hint of sleepiness still in his voice. "Where ya' headed?"

"Kitchen. Couldn't sleep."

"Sure it wasn't out somewhere?" Goren accused.

Dani sighed heavily, "No. I'm through running. It's time to face up to the reality, isn't that what you told me?"

Goren eased up to a sitting position, giving Dani more space on the couch. He still had not released her wrist. He now slid his hand down to hold hers.

"Truce," Goren spoke quietly.

"Yeah, truce," Dani responded quickly.

"It'll all be fine, Dani, I promise. Eames'll run the op and you and me will work perfectly together. I trust you."

It was the three words Dani needed. She knew it. Goren knew it. It's really what had kept her awake, fear that he couldn't or wouldn't trust her. Undercover like this you only had your back up to depend upon. If you didn't trust that they would be there when the time came, you were walking into a death trap. Dani had to know Goren could trust her, depend on her. She already knew she could trust and depend on him and Alex. She was the question mark.

"Thanks," she answered quietly, squeezing his hand. "I think I can sleep now."

Goren smiled. He hadn't realized just how similar they were. He finally understood why she had gotten so quickly under his skin. He didn't want to see her make the same mistakes he had.

Dani interrupted his thoughts, "Mind if I just stretch out in the recliner. Alex is sleeping so peacefully, I don't want to run the risk of waking her."

"Go ahead. I think there's a blanket already in the chair." He let go of her hand. Dani was struck by the sudden loss of the warmth. She moved quickly to chair and reclined back. Within minutes, she was snoring softly.

Goren stretched back out on the couch. Soon, his snores overshadowed hers.